It’s a disease, plain and simple. The first contagion likely occurred when I shrunk a cherished cardigan and it came out looking like an American Girl Doll nightmare. All tightened and minature and out of proportion – I am sure my neighbors heard the very loud, very colorful frustration. What I had unwittingly performed as I grieved for my garment, was the magic of felting.
Felting occurs when 100% wool is washed and agitated. It shrinks, thickens, and like Clark Kent in the phone booth, comes out in a super strong albeit smaller rendition of its original self. You can actually CUT the wool after felting, and be left with a clean, unfraying edge.
Add in the propensity to never throw anything away that might have a use – a syndrome cheerfully blamed on my ever so frugal Armenian ancestors, and there you have it.. the onset of the sweater quilt disease. Imagine the possibilities – an almost infinite supply of “passed on” wool garments, yearning to be chosen for reincarnation.
M. Night Shyamalan – step to the side please!
Now I’m a great one for ideas – but since I am always overtasking myself, I am woefully horrid on execution. Enter one of my very talented pals – Patricia – who is exceedingly clever in all things arts and crafts, (not to mention a top notch pediatric nurse). Progress to our pie in the sky notion of sweater-raiding every thrift store in Boston – gleefully (and admittedly a bit maniacally) shrinking our captured sweater zombies into oblivion, then slicing and dicing them with gusto into fun little squares that can be sewn together to make a wonderful quilt blanket like Patricia’s creation above. And, really, it’s not hard to do! (crossmyhearthopetodieifItellalie)
I’m committed to at least making a pashmina size felted sweater scarf this fall, (maybe in cashmere..mmm so soft and warm..) so stay tuned..AND if you want to try one too – Let us Know! We’d love to start an online felting bee to help each other out.
Thank you for introducing me to this idea. Sadly, it is 20 years too late for my beautiful Susan Bristol and Fair Isle sweaters and they would have been such a perfect, preppy little number. I have to take a closer look at all the Hilton Head consignment shops there may be one or two just waiting for me. I love the new site! Great new look – but still the same lovely Kalembardune.